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About the course

We work in partnership with Leeds Beckett University to ensure you have the correct balance of in-school experience and academic support required to achieve a PGCE and QTS. Your academic and subject knowledge content will be delivered through training in our partner schools. You will have two placements in two contrasting schools across the alliance. The course runs from September to June.

Interview process

Your interview will take place at Castleford Academy or one of our partner schools. You will be invited to teach a small group of key stage 3 students on a topic relating to your subject, complete a series of brief skills tests and participate in a formal interview. The whole process will take approximately two hours.

How school placements work

Our secondary schools are mostly 11 - 16 with one 11 - 18. Trainees are placed in the schools which have capacity to offer an experienced mentor and a range of suitable classes across key stages. We take note of candidates' transport needs and, where possible, seek to place them in schools which are conveniently located based upon their individual circumstances. All candidates will have two placement schools with a lead school which trainees return to in the summer term.

Fees

The course fees for 2019/2020 are as follows:

Student type

Fees to pay

UK students

£9,250

EU students

£9,250

Financial support

You’ll get a bursary of £9,000 if you have a degree of 2:2 or above in any subject.

You don’t have to apply for a bursary - you’ll automatically start receiving it once you begin your course. Find out how you’ll be paid.

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants should have at least a 2:2 honours degree relevant to secondary education in or related to the subject area applying for.

All applicants must have grade C passes in GCSE English Language and Maths (or equivalent) before making an application. Key Skills, Functional Skills and the Certificate in Adult Numeracy/Literacy are not accepted in place of GCSEs.

Evidence of recent experience in a UK Secondary school must have been completed prior to you making your application. Other experiences of working with children may be taken into consideration.

Personal qualities

We are looking for ambitious and committed individuals with a passion for their subject and a desire to share their enthusiasm and inspire young people. If you have these qualities coupled with a relentless focus on securing the best outcomes for young people, we would encourage you to apply to train with us.

Other requirements

The PGCE Secondary Education (11-16) entry requirements also include statutory Government requirements for trainees entering ITE. These are Professional Skills tests in Literacy and Numeracy that must be passed before commencing a QTS course. Further information about registering for and completing these tests can be found on the Department for Education website.

About the training provider

We work closely with the team at Leeds Beckett University and a large number of primary and secondary schools across the Wakefield area to ensure you gain practical experiences and academic knowledge throughout the course. We're a small alliance so we know each of our trainees' individual needs and can ensure placements accommodate any family commitments and additional needs. We offer a wide range of subjects and both primary and secondary courses.

Training with disabilities and other needs

We ensure candidates with disabilities and other needs are aware of the support they can access when taking the skills tests. We also look to place candidates in schools which are best suited to their additional needs.